One day last September the writer picked up a nest of the common social wasp, _Polistes_, which had been detached from its support, and placed it upon his desk. A short time later he was attracted by a scratching sound, and discovered that one of the wasps was just beginning to cut the cap from its cell preparatory to emerging. During the next few days a series of observations were made and notes taken covering the behavior of the wasps which emerged from their cells during that period. Miss Enteman[A] has made a careful study of the instincts of the social wasps, and while the observations recorded in the present paper are largely corroborative of her work, some interesting details are here added. The cutting of the cap of the cell occupied some time, and extended around four-fifths of its circumference, the remaining one-fifth being gnawed and partially chewed through so that it was flexible enough to act as a hinge for the cap. After the cap was sufficiently cut away, the wasp started to slowly work itself out, pushing up the top of the cell like a trap door as progress was made. A good deal of effort was required to get the body out until the front legs were freed. Then the wasp had more purchase and progress was somewhat faster until the second pair of legs came out. After this slight effort seemed to be necessary for the completion of the operation. For the next thirty minutes careful observations were made of the movements of this wasp in order to ascertain its first reactions. It is evident that they would be somewhat modified from what they are here recorded if the colony had contained the queen and other workers, as this specimen had the run of the entire nest, and none of its movements were effected by those of other individuals. It is equally evident that all stimuli came from within, or from contact with the nest, and not from suggestions received from other individuals or from contact with them. The following is the record made at one minute intervals, beginning with the time the specimen left its cell: 8:06. Specimen emerged from its cell. 8:07. Cleaned its front legs in its mouth and its antennæ with its front legs. 8:08. Moved around some. Rubbed its wings with its hind legs and spread them out twice. 8:09. Cleaned antennæ and front legs. 8:10. Swung abdomen back and forth, and brushed its wings. Moved around the nest rapidly and waved the antennæ, but all movements were jerky. 8:11. Explored nest, occasionally rubbing abdomen with legs. 8:12. Explored nest. 8:13. Explored nest. Movements unsteady. Cleaned antennæ and front legs. 8:14. Explored nest, in the course of which it went over the edge on to the back side, but immediately returned to the under side. Cleaned the front legs and antennæ, and then the hind legs. 8:15. Spread out the wings. Cleaned the antennæ.